Prompt: My unit plan theme is on the Quest for Perfection, which could relate to the perfection in oneself, others, or society. For this particular activity, focused on finding perfection in society around you. The quest for perfection can lead to society attempting to create a Utopia, but sometimes an attempt to creat an utopia leads to sacrificing a few liberties. In that case do you have a utopia or a Dystopia?
Pre-Writing (Thinking):
What is your idea of utopia?
What is your idea of dystopia?
Can one person's idea of a utopia be another person's idea of dystopia.
Activity
Read the poem Dystopia
After reading the poem, identify and underline the words that "paint the picture" of dystopia (dark, brooding, black, etc.)
After identifying the words, go through and replace them with either their opposite (dark to white, etc.) or any word that changes the mood of the poem.
Answer the Question: How does changing the words change the meaning of the poem? Pick a title that reflects the new meaning of the poem.
Read the poem Tedious Utopia
Compare the poem to Dystopia and to your new poem? How are three messages different? How are they the same?
Would you rather live in the dystopia described in Dystopia, the Utopia described in Tedious Dystopia, or the world you created after modifying Dystopia? Why?
Dystopia
Smoke pumping into the sky,
A Gothic Skyline filled with black
Black architecture,
Dominating a brooding landscape
Clanking cogs grinding,
Making an inhuman scream
People walking silently,
In black uniform lines
No individuality survives,
Everyone dressed the same, skin pale to the eye
Morbidly cold to the touch,
Mere machines
Blackness permeating everywhere,
Flesh providing no warmth
I dream of what the world could have been like,
Full of color and life, full of creativity and uniqueness
No place to voice my ideas,
Dangerous ideas crushed by those in control
Part of one collective mind,
Merely a subjugated citizen!
Josh Gibbens
Tedious Utopia
Long ago and faraway
where all good tales began
in a land of plenty
not marred by thinking man
No poverty or sickness,
anger, greed, or hate
Time was not the master
and folk were never late
Utopian land of dreams
Heavenly place to some
To one man it seemed tedious
"A paradise for the dumb"
"Not for those who question
or rise to seize the day
No challenges to stretch their minds"
was what he'd like to say.
Others seem content
in the endless glow of sun
but the wise man prayed earnestly
that it would come undone
He grew tired of endless day
and longed for the contrast of night
because 'On after darkness can
they hope to see the light.'
He looked upon the people
grown complacent, soft and fat
"Nothing more and nothing less.
What's a ball without a bat?"
There's no competition
When everyone agrees
Surrounded by perfection
what would they hope to see?
A better world is found
in balanced black and white.
Growth can only happen
through challenges in life.
Hearts and minds grow stronger
when they bravely bear the load
How can one develop
with only one choice of road?"
Chanti
Activity in Action
ANTI-Dystopia
Cotton Candy pumping into the sky,
A Western Skyline filled with light Pink architecture,
Dominating a joyful landscape
Clanking cogs grinding,
Making a joyful yell
People walking excitedly,
In clusters
All individuality survives,
Everyone dressed tacky, skin bright to the eye Comfortablysteaming to the touch,
Mere machines
Sunshine permeating everywhere,
Flesh providing much warmth
I dread what the world could have been like, No color and life, lack of creativity and uniqueness
Many places to voice my ideas, Outrageous ideas encouraged by those in control
Part of one awesome mind,
Merely an awesome citizen!
4. The poem is no longer describing a dystopia.
5. The first poem (Dystopia) describes a bleak world where everyone is the same and there is no creativity or life. The poem Tedious Utopia, also describes a world where everywhere is essentially the same but there is no conflict. However, people are stunted here since everything is perfect. There is no chance for growth. The poem I created, Anti-Dystopia, essentially describes a world where everything is free and people can act they way they want to act. It is a crazy version of a Utopia.
6. I would live in the Utopia described in Tedious Utopia because the world I created is too crazy and dystopia sounds depressing. At least in Tedious Utopia everyone is content and happy.
Prompt: My unit plan theme is on the Quest for Perfection, which could relate to the perfection in oneself, others, or society. For this particular activity, focused on finding perfection in society around you. The quest for perfection can lead to society attempting to create a Utopia, but sometimes an attempt to creat an utopia leads to sacrificing a few liberties. In that case do you have a utopia or a Dystopia?
Pre-Writing (Thinking):
Activity
Dystopia
Smoke pumping into the sky,
A Gothic Skyline filled with black
Black architecture,
Dominating a brooding landscape
Clanking cogs grinding,
Making an inhuman scream
People walking silently,
In black uniform lines
No individuality survives,
Everyone dressed the same, skin pale to the eye
Morbidly cold to the touch,
Mere machines
Blackness permeating everywhere,
Flesh providing no warmth
I dream of what the world could have been like,
Full of color and life, full of creativity and uniqueness
No place to voice my ideas,
Dangerous ideas crushed by those in control
Part of one collective mind,
Merely a subjugated citizen!
Josh Gibbens
Tedious Utopia
Long ago and faraway
where all good tales began
in a land of plenty
not marred by thinking man
No poverty or sickness,
anger, greed, or hate
Time was not the master
and folk were never late
Utopian land of dreams
Heavenly place to some
To one man it seemed tedious
"A paradise for the dumb"
"Not for those who question
or rise to seize the day
No challenges to stretch their minds"
was what he'd like to say.
Others seem content
in the endless glow of sun
but the wise man prayed earnestly
that it would come undone
He grew tired of endless day
and longed for the contrast of night
because 'On after darkness can
they hope to see the light.'
He looked upon the people
grown complacent, soft and fat
"Nothing more and nothing less.
What's a ball without a bat?"
There's no competition
When everyone agrees
Surrounded by perfection
what would they hope to see?
A better world is found
in balanced black and white.
Growth can only happen
through challenges in life.
Hearts and minds grow stronger
when they bravely bear the load
How can one develop
with only one choice of road?"
Chanti
Activity in Action
ANTI-Dystopia
Cotton Candy pumping into the sky,
A Western Skyline filled with light
Pink architecture,
Dominating a joyful landscape
Clanking cogs grinding,
Making a joyful yell
People walking excitedly,
In clusters
All individuality survives,
Everyone dressed tacky, skin bright to the eye
Comfortably steaming to the touch,
Mere machines
Sunshine permeating everywhere,
Flesh providing much warmth
I dread what the world could have been like,
No color and life, lack of creativity and uniqueness
Many places to voice my ideas,
Outrageous ideas encouraged by those in control
Part of one awesome mind,
Merely an awesome citizen!
4. The poem is no longer describing a dystopia.
5. The first poem (Dystopia) describes a bleak world where everyone is the same and there is no creativity or life. The poem Tedious Utopia, also describes a world where everywhere is essentially the same but there is no conflict. However, people are stunted here since everything is perfect. There is no chance for growth. The poem I created, Anti-Dystopia, essentially describes a world where everything is free and people can act they way they want to act. It is a crazy version of a Utopia.
6. I would live in the Utopia described in Tedious Utopia because the world I created is too crazy and dystopia sounds depressing. At least in Tedious Utopia everyone is content and happy.